Means for traversing or laying threads, filaments, and the like



Oct. 17, 1933.

MEANS FOR TRAVERSING OR LAYING THREADS, FILAMENTS, A ND THE LIKE "Mill:.4 I

W. COOMBES Filed Feb. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l llllll mmlIl-lllllulIJ;

Wz'am C'oowzZea r? warne w. COOMBES 1,931,179 v MEANS FOR TRAVERSING 0RLAYING THREADS, FILAMENTS, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 28, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 2.

0a. 17, 1933. w. COOMBES 1,931,179

MEANS FOR TRAVBRSING OR LAYING THREADS, FILAMENTS, AND THE LIKE I FiledFeb. 28, 1929 v .4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 5 five/Lion @ombeJ k/f/iiome J Oct.17, 1933. w COOMBES 1,931,179

MEANS FOR TRAVERSING OR LAYING THREADS FILAMENTS, AND THE LIKE FiledFeb. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 17, 1933 'MEANS FOR'raA-vnasmo on PATENT? OFFICE; i

nature 'rnanans, mammalian m use 7 William Wollatojn, EnglandApplication February 28,1929, s rial-No. 343,406, a

and in Great Britain .Marchl, 192s Y 150m (Cl. 6H5), p or traversingmembers through crankmecha- This invention comprises new or improvedmeans for traversing or laying threads, filaments and the like which arewithdrawn or supplied from a non-traversing supply or supply which 5does not traverse with the thread traversing means, theinvention beingaccordingly differentiated from the laying of threads by traversingshuttles in the manner customary in weaving looms. r I a The inventionhas particular, although not exclusive, reference to the traversing orlaying of weft threads in the production of fabrics.

An object of this invention istoprovide thread traversing or layingmeans of a much less complicated and easier operable character than anyheretofore known or proposed, and by simplifying mechanism employed, tominimizethe wear and tear thereon. 1

Another object 'oi the invention" is to provide mechanism which isparticularly adaptable for traversing or laying threads acrosscomparatively long distances, thus facilitating the laying of weftthreads in the manufacture of comparatively wide fabrics.

A further object is to provide means for enabling threads or the like tobe traversed or laid more rapidly than heretoforefi As is well known therate of traverse of threads is limited by the following considerationsinter alia, the construction of the traversing means, the tensilestrength of the thread and the mannerin and extent towhich thetraversing means 1 impart tension to the thread, it being appreciatedthat if the traverse motion is uneven or imparts rapid change of tensionto the thread thetendency to breakage is .increasedand the economicpracticable speed 'of' operation accordingly reduced.

Another purpose of the present invention therefore is toprovide meansfor traversing or laying threads whereby the tension and the rate ofvariation of tension imparted thereto is maintained at a minimum so thatthe speed of operation is maintained correspondingly high;

The present invention consists in traversingor laying threads orfilaments across a predetermined path by the pivotal oroscillatory'motion of thread carrying or propelling means. g i

Another feature resides in enacting the traverse of threads or the likealternately in opposite directions along the same path by theoscillation of a plurality, of thread carrying or propelling members. i

A further feature consists in transmitting S veral in nods of carryingbut the invention at will from a plurality of different threads.

traversing devices.

elevation means for ment adjustably in its carrier arm; and oscillatorymotion to one or more thread laying nism from a continuously rotatingmember.

Yet another featureconsists in the provision of means whereby one andthe same' thread or filament or group of threads'or' filaments to belaid or traversed is alternately engagedby two angularly disposedmembers oscillatingfin unison, or parts of one oscillating member, insucha manner that during the oscillatory motion of said threadeengagingmembers or parts in one direc- GI tion one of said members traverses orlays the thread or threads a'ndin the oscillatory motion in thedirection' oppo'site to which the second of said thread-engaging memberstraverses or lays said thread or threads.

are hereinafter described by wayof-exampie, and means are also includedin the invention whereby the thread or threadsto be laid can be selected78 For the purpose of more fully describing the nature of this inventionreference will nowbe madeto' the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 illustrates in front elevation a warp knittingfmachine havingweft thread traversing g0 and laying means in accordance with oneembodiment ofthisinvention. Y

Flgure 2 is an end elevation of i I Figure 3 is a detail view showing inend elevation partlof the mechanism shown at the right ishandsideofFigure'l. j

Figure! is a diagrammatic 'view showing the previously illustrated weftlaying mechanismin theposlition occupied on the completion of atraversing or laying motion.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate diagrammatically modified arrangements ofthread laying and Figures 7andaillustratc'atthetwoextreme .poationsi ofits movement a further construction of device particularly adaptable forselectively layingand traversing one or more of a plurality ofthreads. 1

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate in side and rear-.

selectively traversing and 1 m t r l 1 Figure 11 is a detail viewillustrating a-further embodiment of the present invention in which thecarrierarmemployed for laying the 1 weft thread is in the form of aquadrant; Figure 12 is a detail view illustrating the mannet ofsupporting the weft thread-engaging ele- Figure 13 is a detail viewiilustrating a still different embodiment of the invention from thatshown in any other view.

In carrying out this invention the same will be described, by way ofexample, as applied to means for traversing and laying weft in theproduction in a warp knitting machine of fabric wherein the weft extendscontinuously from selvedge to selvedge. V g

Such a machine is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein theneedles indicated at 1 are mounted on the needle bar 2, the warp threads3 being led thereto from a suitable supply and passed through guides 4which guides are operated from the shaft 5 by. eccentrically operatedlever mechanism to lap the warps round the needles and produce knittedchains in accord: ance with known practice The weft thread 6 drawn froma convenient supply is adapted to be traversed across the machine to laythe thread from selvedge to selvedge of the fabric, said weft beingmoved over on to the front of the needles, 1. e.the plain side, by meansof a movable grid 7 operating'in conjunction with a stationary grid 8carried by the work bar 9 over which the fabric isdrawn. 30th moving andfixed grids? and 8 are preferably formed of a series of suitably shapedwires, the wires of one grid beingadapted to pass between those of theother so as to press the weft down over the fixed grid on to the frontof the needles, and prevent fouling of said needles.

In order to obviate the possibility of the weft fouling the end needlesat the commencement of the laying-of each course of weft, interceptormembers 10 are provided located one beyond each end of the width offabric. Each interceptor has a nose portion 11 which at the requiredtime is caused to move into a position between the first and last pairsof wires of the movable grid 7 so as to press back the weft thread awayfrom the path of the-needles; and vas the movablevgrid recedes to itsrearmost position the end loop or portion of the weft is released and,during the vtraversing of said weft, is caught by the interceptor nose11. After a suflicient time has elapsed to allow the needles to movedown to a position at which fouling cannot occur the interceptor iswithdrawn and the end loop or portion of weft released therefrom toforma perfect selvedge.

The two interceptors are mounted on a common rod 12 and are operatedfrom the eccentric shaft 5 by the disc crank 13 through rod 14 which isconnected to a slotted arm 15, see Fig. 3, loosely mounted on saidinterceptor rod 12, said rod being turned in oneagirection by drawingthe rod 14 downwards against a pin 16 carried by a short arm 17 fixed tothe interceptor rod, asprin'g 18 serving to transmit the opposite orreturn movement to the said rod 12 and'interceptors thereon. The layingof the weft 6 is effected by two thread carrier arms 19 mounted tooscillate upon two separate pivots 20 located in horizontal alignmentbeyond each end of the width required to be traversed by the weft. Thetwo pivots 20 are connected for simultaneous rotation by crank arms 21and a horizontally extending rod 22, and a rotary or oscillatory motionis imparted to one of the pivots from a' disc crank or eccentric 23through connecting rod 24 and crank arm 25. On the crank or eccentric 23is a bevelled gear-26 intermeshing with another bevel 27 on theeccentric shaft 5 so as to transmit rotarymotion to said crank 23.

The carrier arms 19 are preferably of equal length and at the outer endof each arm is a laterally extending thread engagingpin 19a 01' itsDuring each half revolution of the driving cranks 23 one of the carrierarms 19 is swung downwards from an upwardly inclinedto a horizontalposition and the second arm is simultaneously swung upwards from ahorizontal to an inclined position, the weft 6 being engaged by eachcarrier in turn on its downward movement and laid or traversedalternately in opposite directions across the machine. The length ofeach arm '19 is such as 'to traverse or lay the thread a little beyondthe extent of the needle row at each end so as to be engaged by theaforesaid interceptors 10 and prevented from fouling the end needles. nv

In the production of warp knitted fabric.con-. taining weft it isfrequently required thatthe laying of the weft be interrupted atpredetermined intervals while the knitting of the warp threads iscontinued thereby providing atintervals in the length of the fabricweftless divisions or portions, and in order to enable this to beaccomplished means are provided whereby the'weft 6 is at the requiredtimes deflected out of the path of the fingers 19a of the oscillatingarms 19 so as not to be engaged and traversed thereby and subsequentlyallowed to assume their normal-path and betra'versedby the carriers. I

This defieciion of the weft from the path'of the carriers mayv beeffected by an upstanding Wire portion 28 on a rod 29 pivotally mountedin end bearings 30 on an upstanding portion of the machine frame, saidrod 29-having a slotted crank arm 31 to which is connected a downwardlyextending rod 32, the lower end of said rodbeing connected to theforward end of a centrally pivoted lever. 33 which lever carries at itsrear extremity a bit 34 which coacts with an endless travelling chain35. This chain 35 is traversed by pawl and ratchet device 36 which isintermitten ly operated through'lever mechanism 37 from a disc crank 38,the latter being conveniently carrled by anidler'gear wheel 39 whichintermeshes with and drives a gear 40 on the eccentric shaft 5. Thisidler gear 39 also mesheswith a gear 41 on a shaft 42 to which lattershaft the drive transmitted from a suitable motor to the macarrier,fingers 19, a spring 43 fu'nctioning to return the parts to theirnormalposition after the passage of the raised links 35 from beneath thebit 34.

During the time the laying of the weft is interrupted the intercepters10 are retained in their operative position i. e. coacting withthe endloop or portion of the weft, against the tendency of the spring 18,which, as previously described,

normally effects the return movement ofthe interceptors away from thefabric. This is effected by causing a small pivoted hook 44 at the endof a second centrally pivoted arm 45 to pass over on to the front of ashoulder 10a on the interceptor shaft 12, the bringing of the hook 44into its locking position being accomplished by raised links on thechain 35 coacting with an element 46 at the free end of the saidcentrally pivoled arm 45. When the raised links have passed out ofengagement with the element 46 the arm 45 is moved back under springinfluence and the hook or catch 44 is lifted to a position in which samewill move to and fro over but clear of the shoulder 10a and cannot passover and grip the front edge of said shoulder.

The operation of the intercepter locking catch 44 is so timed relativelyto the operation of the weft deflector 28 that the weft is released forbeing traversed shortly before the interceptor 10 is released for movingout of engagement with the weft, thus allowing the weft to be traverseda dis ance sumcient to prevent fouling of the. end needles prior toreleasing the weft from the interceptor.

The length of the thread carrier arms is such as to traverse or lay thethread beyond the extent of the needle row at each end.

As is well known, threads to be traversed or laid in the production offabric are fed to the machine under tension, and-as such tension usuallyincreases progressively from the supply to thepart which adjoins thefabric, it is at this part of the thread that breakages most frequentlyoccur. In the methods of traversing a weft hitherto employed the tensionincreases as the thread layer approaches the end of its traverse,whereas by traversing the weft in accordance with the method abovedescribed the tension is actually decreased as it approaches the end ofits traverse.

This is due to the fact that the pivot 01' pivots about which thethread-laying arms 19 oscillae are located in or approximately in thehorizontal plane including the being-formed edge of the fabric, with theresult that the movements of such arms in operation are in the main, ifnot wholly, above or beyond the said fabricedge, an arrangement makingfor simplicity in construction and in operation of the machine as wellas insuring that irregular and undesirable tension tending to rupturethe weft thread shall not be imparted to the latter. r

The two pivots or axes of motion of the carrier arms are disposed asuitabledistance beyond the selvedge edges of the fabric or beyond theends of the needle row on which the fabric is knitted, the distancebetween each arm pivot and the thread-engaging element on said arm beingconsequently greater than thedi'stance between said thread-engagingelement and the edge of the fabric to which the thread extends from saidelement. By this arrangement, as the carrier arm swings down, a portionof the thread slips back over the carrier element and the tension onthe'thread is reduced.

In a modified arrangement (Figure 5) two weft thread carrier arms 19preferably of equal length are mounted to rotate upon a common pivot oraxis located centrally or approximately centrally in the width of themachine or of that part of the machine on which a'width of fabric is tobe produced.

To the pivot 4'7 of these arms is connected a .crank arm 48 which is inturn pivotally connected to the one end, preferably the upper end, of aconnecting rod 49 which is at its other end connected to a disc or othercrank or eccentric 50 to which rotary motion is imparted from the driveof the machine.

The disc crank or eccentric is so disposed as a to impart, when rotated,a rocking or oscillatory motion to the aforementioned two arms throughan angle of somewhat more than 90.

When the oscillating arms are in their normal position, i. e. at thecommencement or completion of a weft laying motion, one arm is disposedhorizontally and the other'approximately vertically the weft thread 6being engaged by a hook or element at the end of the horizontal armand'being led theretofrom a suitable supply over a guide member which atthe time is located on the opposite side of the thread-engaging elementon the upstanding arm. In this way the thread extends diagonallydownwards from'the guide member to the horizontal carto the positionflrst described and during said motion the thread is traversed and laidin an opposite direction, it being understood that the thread engagingelements on the carrier arms are shaped so as to traverse the weft onlywhen the arms are moving downwar ds.

It is to 'beunderstood that after each oscillatory motion for laying thethread, the machine needles are operated in the customary manner to lockthe weft in position, means such as the aforedescribed intermittentlyoperable pivotal interceptors 10 being advantageously installed at thetwo selvedges of the fabric for preventing fouling of the end needlesby'the weft.

If desired, the two carrier arms may be dispensed with and a quadrantshaped member employed having thread engaging elements suit ably formedor provided thereon at the requisite positions to function in thebefore-described manner (see Fig. 11). v

In a. further modification the carrier arms 19 extend at an angleto'each other of approximately 90 (see Figure Gland are both fixedlyconnected to a common shank 51 which shank is pivoted to afixedpivot 52located centrally in the width of the machine at a suitable distancebelow the'needle bedfthe carriers with said shank'thus forming a memberof substantially Y-shape. From' the pivot 52 extends a short crank arm53' pivotally connectedjto a downwardlyextending connecting rod 54 whichas in the foregoing arrangements is connected to a disc crank 50 drivenfrom the shaft 5. r

In operation the carrier arms 19 with shank 51 are oscillated on thepivot 52 and swung through an angle of 90, thus at each'motion' In thelast described arrangement the advantage exists in that weft can betraversed across comparatively wide widths of fabric by the employmentof carrier arms 19 of comparatively short length, Additionally thedistance over which the weft is to be traversed can be variably adjustedto a considerable extent by varyingthe position of the thread engagingfingers or elements along carrier arms 19, such elements being for thispurpose adjustably connected to said carrier arms, as represented inFig. 12. The thread engaging elements on the carrier arms can, ofcourse, also be adjustably fitted in the arrangement shown in Figures 1to 5.

In a still further arrangement (Figures '7 and 8) the twocarrier arms 19are pivotally mounted a short distance beyond each end of the needle bedand are connected for simultaneous oscillation by crank arms 55 andconnecting rod 56, the oscillation being transmitted from disc crank oreccentric 50 as before described. In this arrangement, however, unequalmotion is imparted to the two arms 19, the one being caused to travelthrough an angle of approximately 90 and the other through an angle ofsubstantially less than 90, the reason for this being that the weft 6instead of being fed through a guide positioned centrally in the widthof the machine is fed at a position on the one side of said machine,therefore when the weft extends down to the one or left-hand side of thefabric same is approximately vertical while when it extends to theopposite or right-hand edge of the fabric .same is disposed diagonallyacross the machine: therefore the degree of movement imparted to thecarriers is such as to bring the thread-engaging ele-. ments just beyondthe weft at each extreme position thereof.

In this last described arrangement a plurality of weft threads maybe fedto the machine and means may be incorporated for enabling any one ormore of such threads to be selected and laid at will. To this end .thewefts are advantageously guided through independent guides 57 any oneofwhich is adapted to be displaced against spring infiuence into aposition for being engaged by the finger or element on the carriers 19.

The selective displacement of the guides 57 into the path of the threadcarrier may be effected by any approved means such as'cams, patternchain or wheel, it being understood that the selection takes place atthe one side of the fabric only, thatis to say any thread selected andlaid by the one carrier armin one course is also laid in the nextsucceeding course by the second car: rier arm. A plurality of wefts canof course be simultaneously laid by displacing the guides so as to bringa plurality of wefts into the path of movement of the carriers.

One method of selecting the wefts is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10wherein three guides 5'7 are shown slidably carried within a suitablebearing 58. Each guide is influenced by a separate spring 59 whichfunctions normally to project the guides 57 into a position wherein thewefts are out of the path of the elements 19a of the pivotal carrierbars 19. Coactingwith each slidable bar 57 is a centrally pivoted lever60 the one end of each of which is maintained in engagement with atravelling pattern chain 61 having th'ereon upstanding bits 62, thearrangement being such that as said bits 62 travel beneath the levers 60same are oscillated on their pivots and slidably displace the arms 57against the springs 59 so as to bring the wefts 6 into the path of thecarrier elements 19a. It will, therefore, be seen that the selection ofthe wefts is determined by the disposition of the upstanding bits 62 onthe chains 61.

In a still further modification, a single oscillating thread carrier armmay be 'employed pivoted centrally in the width to be traversed by thethread and operated through suitable gearing to swing to and fro throughan angle of 180, such a form of the invention being illustrated in Fig.13, wherein the thread carrier arm 19 is represented as carried by ashaft 65 on which is supported a gear wheel '66, with which meshes agear segment 6'7 carried by a shaft 68. From this shaft projects an arm69 that is connected as by a rod '70 with a crank 50 on the shaft 5.

It will be seen that in each embodiment of my invention herein presentedthe arms 19 and the thread-engaging parts 19a which they carry, and thestationarypivot for the arms are so related to the machine producing thefabric that the thread guides 19a moves in planes that include or areclose to and parallel with the edge of the fabric that is being formed,and that whatever be the position of a thread-engaging and guiding part19a at any moment, that position is in or very close to the said plane;in other words, the thread-engaging, guiding and laying parts alwaysmove in or close to and parallel with theplane of the being-formed edgeof the fabric. This plane, in the embodiments of the inventionhereinillustrated, is a vertical plane; and when the term vertical planeis herein employed it is intended to mean that plane of movement of thethread guides relative to the being-formed edge of the fabric which hasjust been described, rather than a plane having reference to thehorizontal; for if the latter meaning were attached to the term it wouldbe inapplicable unless a given machine were set in a certain positionrelative to the vertical, or had certain arbitrary positions for theparts which form the fabric; whereas if given the meaning herein.intended, the

relations of the part of the apparatus to each other which have beenspecified will be understood, regardless, for instance, of whether theneedles are mounted vertically as shown, or horizontally, or inintermediate position. I claim:

1. In a mechanism for producing fabrics, means for traversing threadsalong a predetermined path comprising a thread supplying and guidingmeans, a pair of pivotally mounted thread carrier arms, the pivots forsaid arms being spaced apart, link mechanism connecting said arms forsimultancous motion, mechanism for imparting oscillatory movements tothe arms, and said arms operating so that at alternate motions one armoscillates to traverse or lay threadin one direction and at theremaining alternate motion the second arm oscillates to lay thread in anopposite direction.

2. In a mechanism for producing fabrics, means for traversing weftthread along a predetermined path embodying two pivotally mounted threadcarrier members, the pivots of said members being spaced apart, linkmechanism connecting said pivots so as to produce simultaneousoscillation of the two arms, crank mechanism for imparting saidoscillation to the arms the link mechanism connecting the arms beingsuch as to impart unequal motions to the arms, and said arms alternatelyoperating upon the threads to traverse same, first in one direction andthen in the other along a predetermined path and means for incorporatingthe threads so laid into the fabric being produced;

3. In a warp knitting machine a warp thread supply, warp thread feedingmeans to the machine needles, means for'operating said needles toproduce knitted chains from the warp threads, a weft thread supply,pivotally mounted weft carrier arms, crank mechanism operating tooscillate said weft carrier arms so as to lay the weft alternately inopposite directions across the machine, means for positively laying theweft on to the front or plain side of the needles so as to preventfouling of said needles by said weft, pivotal interceptors arranged oneat each end of the distance required to be traversed by the weft, andmeans for intermittently operating said interceptors to withhold theweft at each end of its traverse from fouling the end needles.

4. In a warp knitting machine a warp thread supply, warp thread feedingmeans to the machine needles, means for operating said needles toproduce knitted chains from the warp threads, 9. weft thread supply,pivotally mounted weft carrier arms, crank mechanism operating tooscillate said weft carrier arms so as to lay the weft alternately inopposite directions across the machine, means for-positively laying theweft on to the front or plain side of the needles so as to preventfouling of said needles by said weft, pivotal interceptors arranged oneat each end of the distance required to be traversed by the weft, meansfor intermittently operating said interceptors to withhold the weft ateach end of its traverse from fouling the end needles, means fordeflecting at predetermined intervals the weft from the path of movementof the oscillating weft carrier arms so as to produce at intervals inthe fabric a certain amount of fabric void of weft, and means forretaining the weft interceptors in their operative position for'engaging the weft during the time said weft is deflected from the pathof the carriers.

5. In a warp knitting machine a warp thread supply, warp thread feedingmeans't'o the machine needles, means for operating said needles toproduce knitted chains from the warp threads, a weft thread supply,pivotally mounted weft carrier arms, crank mechanism operating tooscillate said weft carrier arms so as to lay the weft alternately inopposite directions across the machine, means for positively laying theweft on to the front or plain side of the needles so as to preventfouling of said needles by said weft, pivotal interceptors arranged oneat each end of the distance required to be traversed by the weft, meansfor intermittently operating said interceptors to withhold the weft ateach end of its traverse from fouling the end needles, an intermittentlyoperated pattern chain, lever mechanism coacting with said chain andfunctioning at predetermined intervals to deflect the weft out of thepath of movement of the weft carrying arms so as to discontinue thelaying of said weft, spring means for returning said weft into the pathof movement of said carrier arms, further lever mechanism coacting withthe said pattern chain and operating at predetermined intervals toretain the weft interceptors in a position coacting with said weft, andmeans whereby said interceptors are retained in the operable positionuntil after the weft deflecting means have been moved out of operationand the laying of the weft recommenced.

6. In a warp knitting machine, a warp thread supply, warp thread feedingmeans to the machine needles, means for operating said needles toproduce knitted chains from the warp threads, a plurality of weftthreads supplied to the ma! chine, a plurality of individuallydisplaceable guides for said wefts, pivotally mounted weft carrier arms,crank mechanism operating to oscillate said weft carrier arms so as tolay the weft alternately in opposite directions across the machine,m'eans for selectively moving any one or more of the weft threads intoand out of the path of the thread carrier arms so as to permit of saidweft being: selectively laid in the fabric," means for positively layingthe weft to the front or plain side-of the needles so as to preventfouling of said needles by said weft, pivotal interceptors arranged oneat each end-of the distance required to be traversed by the weft andmeans for intermittently operating said interceptors to withhold theweft at each end of its traverse from fouling the end needles.

7. In amechanism for producing fabrics, knitting needles arranged in astraight row, means for supplying such needles with thread, means fortraversing additional threads along a predetermined path in proximity tothe knitting needles and transversely of the fabric being produced,comprising a thread supply, pivoted lever thread-carrying -mechanism forengaging with the thread and laying it,a stationarily supported pivot onwhich the said thread-carrying mechanism is mounted, and mechanism forimpart-' lng oscillatory motions-to the said thread-carrying mechanism,the said oscillatory motions of the said thread-carrying mechanismserving wholly to effect the laying of the thread along thepredetermined path.

8. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with knitting needlesand'means for guiding and feeding warp threads thereto,.of weft threadsupply means, means for laying the weft thread along a predeterminedpath so as to beknit into the fabric, each said means movable f about astatlonarily supported pivot whereby the thread is laid wholly bypivoted action of said means, and means acting upon said weft thread tocause it when laid to be properly Dositioned relative to the needles soas to be knit upon their pivots to cause them to alternately lay thethreads, one in one direction and the other in the other direction, fromselvedge to' selvedge of the fabric.

10. A machine such asdescribed in claim 8 characterized by theweft-thread-laying means consisting of two arms supported upon a commonstationary pivot located approximately centrally between the edges ofthe fabric.

11. A machine such as described in claim 8 characterized by theweft-thread-laying means consisting of an arm supported upon a pivotlocated substantially mid-way between the edges of the fabric and belowthe needle bed, the thread-laying arms extending from the upper end ofthe said pivoted arm and being at right angles to each other whereby thepivoted weftthread-laying means is of substantially Y-shape.

12. In a mechanism for producing fabric, a

pair of pivotally mounted thread carrier arms,

to edge of the fabric, thread engaging means upon one arm for engagingsaid thread only during motion of said arm in one direction to carry itacross the fabric but to release the thread upon motion in the reversedirection, and thread engaging means upon the other arm for engagingsaid thread upon such reverse motion to carry it across the fabric inthe reverse direction and then to release it.

13. In a mechanismvfor producing fabric, a pivotally mounted threadcarrier arm for laying a thread from edgeto edge of the fabric in onedirection, a second pivotally mounted thread carrier arm for laying saidthread from edge to edge in the reverse direction, means for supplyingand guiding thread to said arms, mechanism for oscillating, said armstogether and in the same direction to and fro across the fabric, andthread-engaging means upon each arm for engaging the thread alternately'the one during motion in one direction and the other during motion inthe reverse direction.

14. In a machine for producing fabrics, means for laying transverselyfrom margin to margin of the fabric thread that enters into thecomposition thereof, comprising two arms of a length to lay the threads,from margin to margin of the fabric wholly by oscillatory movement aboutpivots for them, one arm laying thread in one direction and the otherlaying the same thread in the reverse direction,thread-engaging means onsaid arms, a stationary pivot for each arm, located one to each side ofthe fabric and beyond the margin thereof, whichpivots and the arms areso related that the thread-engaging means at all times operate invertical planes that are parallel with the being-formed edge of thefabric and include or are very close to said plane, and that said meansat all times move, in the main, above or beyond the being-formed edge,and means for oscillating said arms upon their pivots simultaneously andin the same direction to an fro across the fabric.

15. In a warp knitting machine, a line of needles, means for feedingwarp thread thereto, means for operating such needles to produce knittedwarp chains, a pair of pivotally mounted weft-thread carrier-arms, meansfor, supplying and guiding, weft thread thereto, mechanism foroscillating the two arms simultaneously to lay-

